Hydraulic press



A. F. BECK HYDRAULIC PRES S July 31, 1934.

Filed Aug. 3, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet l d M W e 1, F M n M A W M y? W W 7 o 0,@ au 2 w 1.1 1 l. I \\l. 6 u 0 M W w. E. .nl M w |n Z o w 0 .A w 3 6 July 31, 1934- A. F. BECK I 1,968,595

HYDRAULI C PRES S A. F. BECK July 31, 1934.

HYDRAULI C PRE S S 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed vAug. 3, 1953 n` ZZez Pec/C A. F. BECK July 31, 1934.

HYDRAULIC PRES S Filed Aug. 5, 1933 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 j v glu/vento AZZez FBeC/f July 31, 1934.

A. F. BECK Filed Aug. 3, 1953 HYDRAULIC PRESS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Julysl, 1934.- A, F. BECK 1,968,595

HYDRAULIC PRES S Filed Aug. s, 1955 10 sheets-sheet e JJv A. F. BECK HYDRAULIC PRESS 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 A31/wanton ZZeiz 24736676 A. F. BECK July 3l, 1934.

HYDRAULIC PRES S FiledAug. 3, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 JA//m gnam/toc Z Z671 Fe CIC ff/77M July 31, 1934. A, F. BECK 1,968,595

HYDRAULIC PRES S Filed Aug. 3, 1953 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 4X rili?. 4X N V f NNKNW v JZ?" Z 33 .f5 f .3x 3 I l ":/Jx LL J3 m f ai /K X7 E 5' if .5l-7 37' J/rl f F F 6 Y fl /0 f f wimam J/%` /ZZenj/ec' Patented July 31, 1934 HYDRAULIC mass jAllen F. Beck, Columbus, Ohiopassignor to The Clark Grave Vault Company, Columbus,` Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,500

' s Ciaims. v (o1. 15s-g1) l This invention relates to improvements in sheet metal presses, and has for its object the provision of a press whereinanovel and improved arrangei ment f of platens andl forming dies is present adapted for the shapingof sheet metal plates for use in the production of grave vault hoods, or the like, from a single plate or sheet of material.

LIt ils'another object of the invention to provide an improved hydraulic press specifically adapted for the formation of a grave vault hood of the type disclosed in my prior co-pending application, Serial No. 674,865 filed June 8, 1933. A For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved press comprising the present invention; i

Fig. 2 is a side elevationl thereof; `Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the l planeindicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2 and illustrating the bed of the press and therlower platens; i i

Fig -lis a similar View on the line IV-IV of Fig. 2 and illustrating the arrangement of the upper platens;

Fig. 5 is a detail `vertical sectional view taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1 through the bed of the press and disclosing more particularly .the cylinder mounting for the'end-formingplatens of the press; 1"' Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on the line VL-VI of Fig. 5; i i l Fig( 7 is a vertical sectional view takenthrough the bed of the press on the plane `indicated by '355 the line VII-VII of Fig. 1;

Fig.. 8is a vertical sectional view` 'on the line VIII- VIII of Fig.- 7; 1 l. i Fig; 9 is'a vertical transverse sectional viewclisclosing the upper and lower platens and associV ated diesA in a starting position preparatory to the pressing of a,` blank of sheet metal into the form of a grave vault hood; Fig. `10` is av similar view disclosing 'the first stageof the operation wherein the upper and l lower top-forming dies are brought into forming engagement with the sheet metal blank toI produce thetop curvature'therein;

Fig. 11 is a similar View disclosingthesecond stage of the operation wherein the side. forming z dies arebrought into forming engagement with the metal blank to produce the curvature in the sides of the blank; y

Fig. 12 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on theplaneindicated by the line XII- XII of Fig. 11 disclosing! the Yend. dies in engagement with-the metal blank to producethe end sections offa vault hoodf;

Fig. 13 is a view corresponding to that disclosed in Fig. 12 and disclosing the upper set of end' forming dies in an elevated position; Fig. 14 is a similar view showing the lower set of end forming `dies in an elevated position in order to bend the end forming sectionsy of the blank from horizontal to4 upright positions;

Fig. 15 is a similarview disclosing the` lower 65 set of end `formingdies in their lowered position following the bending of the blankends;

' Fig. 16 :isl a4 .transverse sectional View corresponding to Figs.9, 10and 11 but illustrating the upperfsetof side-forming dies in an elevated po- 7@ sition with respect to the lower set of corresponding dies; l

i Fig. 17 is a similar view disclosing the operation of bending the sides of the blank upwardly;

Fig. 18is ,a similar view with the upper dies 75- in an elevated position and disclosing the eje@- tion of. the shaped metallic blank from the press.v

Fig., 19 is a View of the blank'of metal shaped by the press into a grave vault hood. i

Referring more particularly to the specic form m of the press comprising the present invention; and herein selected for illustration, the numeral 1 designates the cast bed of the press which is adapted tobe mounted on any suitable supporting foundation, such as reenforced concrete pillars, as indicated'at 2. Arising from thebed 1 are vertical guide posts 3 of suitable lengthwhich support at their upper ends the head casting 4 of the press.

Formed in the bed 1 isa longitudinal extending pocket 5 in which` is arranged a lower top-forming platen 6 .which-carries a forming die 7 on its upper surface. `Theplat'en 6is vsupported for vertical movement relativeto `a pair of .stationary sideforming'dies;8-8 mounted on the upper surface 9 of the bed l. This support is preferably effected by the provisionof verticallymovable rams 10-10 mounted formovement in cylinders 11 formed in the lower portionlof the bedV l. A suitable lliquid under pressure is'` admitted into the bottom of the"y cylinders -llthrough ports 12 foreffecting the ele- `vation'of the 'rams 1`0 and the associated platen 6. "Uponthe release of this hydraulic pressure,`the fluid may be expelled from such cylinders by way of Ythe ports 12 and controlled descent of the platen therebyobtained. Guide rods 13 are con- L nected with the platen and pass through openings provided in the bed 1, lthe lower `ends of said rods being equipped with stops 14, whereby tolimit the extent of elevation of the platen 6. Customary packingsr 15 surround the rams 10 to prevent fluid seepage from the cylinders. The action of the rams 10 may be supplemented by a booster 16 arranged in a cylinder 17 formed in the bed 1 between the cylinders 11 and operated by hydraulic pressure as aforesaid.

As shown in Fig. 8, each of the rams 10 may be provided with a spring pressed ejector plunger 18 for the purpose `of, ejecting pressed work from the press as illustrated in Fig. 18 and for clamping the sheet metal blank in the press during initial forming operations, as in Fig. 9. In this instance, the plungers 18 are shown as being actuated by springs 19 mounted in cylindrical guides 20 formed in the interior of the rams 1 0. Hydraulic or pneumatic pressure may be employed to` substitute, if desired, for the springs 19v or to supplement the operation of the latter.

Adapted to coact with the' platen 6 and its die 7 is a corresponding movable platen 21 which car-V ries a top forming die 22. The latter is terminated at its lower end in a substantially convex surface 23 which is adapted to register with the corresponding concave surface 24 4formed in thedie 7. The platen 2l, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, is carried by a pair of pistons 25 which are movable in cylinders 26 supported in connection with the head casting 4 of the press. Mounted on the upper ends of the cylinders 26 is a tank or oil reservoir 27 and also mounted on the head casting 4 is a shelf bracket 28, shown in Fig. il. rIhis bracket has arranged thereon an electric motor 29 and a pump 30 by which the operating fluid of the press is maintained under requisite pressures, as is customary in presses of this character. The motivating uid is delivered to the cylinders 26 under suitable control in order to effect the raising and lowering of the platen 21 and its associated die 22.

The head casting 4 also carries cylinders 31 and associated pistons 32 which support at their lower ends platens 33 carrying upper side-forming dies 34 which are adapted to registervertically with the stationary side dies 8 of the'bed. The dies 34 have their lower `surfaces formed transversely with a compound concave configuration as indicated at 35 which registers with the compound substantially convex configuration 36 provided on the upper surface of the stationary dies 8. Each of the dies 34 is provided substantially midway of its length, as shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, with a transversely extending post forming rib 37 and at its opposite ends with similarly formed post-producing mandrels 38.

The bed 1 of the press, at the ends of the side forming dies 8-8 is provided in each of its lfour corners with pockets designed for the reception of the vertically .movable platens 39 which carry the lower set of end forming dies 40. 'Ihe .platens 39, as shown in Figs. 5 and '6, are each carried by the upper end of a piston 41. Each of these pistons is slidably mounted in an oil-receiving cylinder 42 formed in the bedl'. The lower end of each piston is provided with an enlarged head 43, and oil admitting and discharge passages 44 enter each of the cylinders 42 above and below the v head 43 of the piston disposed therein, whereby to provide positive means for 'raising and lowering of the platens 39 associated therewith. A packing 45 surrounds each of the pistons 41 in the usual manner.

formed in the bed 1, the lower `ends ofthe rods 46 being equipped :with nuts 47 'for the purpose of limiting the upward travel of each platen 39, the

rods serving to guide the movement of the .platen` Also, guide rods 46 are carried by leach` of the platens and extend through ,guide bearings and to confine the same to definite, non-rotative positions.

Carried by the head casting 4 of the press are movable platens 48 which register vertically with the platens 39. These platens are slidably carried, like the platens 33, in connection with the posts 3. Each of the platens 48 is connected with a piston 49 movable in connection with an oil pressure cylinder 50, supported by the head 4. The platens 48 carry an upper set of end-forming dies 51 which, as shown in Figs. 13 to 15 inelusive register with the lower set of end-forming dies 40. The dies 51 are formed with corrugated post-forming enlargements 52, which register with corresponding depressions 53 formed in connection'with the upper and inner corner portions of the dies 40 and the mandrel portions 38 of the dies 34. 1

The operation of my improved press will be best understood by reference to Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive whereinthe variousY operative positions of the platens and their associated dies in the, forming of a grave vault hood are illustrated.

, In Fig. 19, the sheet metal blank B on which the press operates to form an unwelded but shaped grave 4vault hood of integral formation, comprises a single Vsheet of metal of appropriate gauge thickness. The sheet is generally of rectangular form having the ends thereof recessed to producethe cut-out regions C. By its form, the blank presents a top-forming region D, sideforming regions E and vend-forming regions F, the metal being blanked into this form prior to the press operations.

In Fig. 9, the blank of sheet metal B from which a grave vault hood is formed is shown positioned between the upper and lower sets of dies. In the formation of the vault hood, following the positioning of the flat sheet of metal B, as indicated, the upper top-forming die 22 is lowered until it contacts with the upper surface of the sheet B, the sheet being retained in frictionally clamped relationship with ythe die 22 during descent of the latter by the operation of the spring pressed plungers 18. The controlled descent of the die 22 alone continues until the position of the die 22, as illustrated in Fig. 10, is obtained. When in this last position, the die 22 has forced the plungersil so that the upper ends thereof are ush with the concave surfaces 24 of the lower die 7, thus causing the central longitudinal region of the sheet 54 to take the shape of the curvature of the, forming surfaces 23 and 24 of the dies 22 and 7 respectively. This produces a vault hood having a generally arched top with additionally curved longitudinally extending ribs 55 along the longitudinal edges of the arched top..

During the pressing of the central region D of the sheet B, the side dies 8 and 34 are maintained in their vertically spaced order as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. By thus spacing'the dies 8V and 34 during the formation of the central region, the sides D of theblank are permitted to move freely while the central region assumes itsv `arched shape.l This avoids any undue stretching or straining `of the metal comprising the `blank B and prevents the formation of press-produced imperfections in thev finished product. Y

Following the shaping of the central region of the blank, as shown by the operation illustrated in Fig. 10, the next cperation is to impart a desired compound curvature, both laterally and longitudinally to the side regions EI of the metal blank bounding the central varched region D.- This is accompli-shed as indicatedl in Fig.y l1

` the pipe line 62 which leads to a valve mechanism wherein it will be observed that the upper set of side-forming dies 34 have been lowered into engagement with the stationary" lower "side dies 8, thereby imparting the compound undulating curvature as at 56 in Fig.' 11 to the side regions of the vault blank. Another feature of the press resides in the fact that the dies 8 and 34 are formed with registering ribs 37, extending transversely of the side forming dies `which produce corrugated post forming projections 57 in the side regions of the blank B. Similar projections 58 are formed by the registering portions 52 and 53 of the endforming dies and 51, as shown more particularly in Fig. 12.

Following the operation illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12,` the` press is operated to elevate the dies 51 to substantially the position disclosed in Fig. 13. When this is done, the lower set of end dies 40 is elevated which causes the wrapping of the post forming portions 58 of the blank around the mandrels 38 of the dies 34, thus forming the end walls of the vault hood and provision of corner posts for uniting the end and side walls of said hood.

The lower set of end dies 40 is then lowered to the normal position disclosed in Fig. l5 and following this, the dies 34 are elevated to their fullest extent from the stationary dies 8, as shown in' Fig; 16, whereby adequate clearance is provided between the dies 8 and 34 to permit the side forming sections of the blank to be bent or folded upwardly as shown in Fig. 17. This is preferably effected by forcing the die 22 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 16 to the position dis- "i closed irl-Fig. 17, so that the die 22 lies between the stationary side dies 8. This causes the elevation of the side regions of the hood section and constitutes'the final step in the shaping ofr the blank-in the press. It will be observed that the die 22 is provided with longitudinally extending shoulders 59 which terminate in relieved sides 60, the latter being employed to accommodate the complex curved sides of the vault hood.

l The die 22 may then be raised to the position disclosed in Fig. 18, which allows the spring pressed plungers 18 to lift the shaped hood section from the dies of the press and facilitate its withdrawal. The formed hood is then subjected toa welding operation for uniting in assembled relationship the vertical adjoining edges of its end Awalls and the curved edges of union existing between thetop of the hood and the normally upper edges of said end wall, as set forth in my aforesaid prior application.

It will be understood that suitable controls, automatic or manual, of the conventional character in connection with large type presses may be employed for controlling the operations of the die carrying pistons and platens. For instance, in the operation of the end platens 39, oil or other suitable iluid is withdrawn from the reservoir-27 and conducted by the valved line 61 to the suction side of the pump 30 driven bythe motor 29. The discharge side of the pump is connected with 63, and from the valve 63 pipe lines 64 extend to the ports 44 of the cylinders 42 for the purpose of governing the raising and lowering of the pistons 41 and their associated dies 40. Similarly the upper corner platens 48 have their operating cylinders 50 connected by means of pipe lines 65, as shownin Fig. 4, with a Valve mechanism 66 which communicates by means of a line 67 with the discharge side of a pump 68 also driven by the motor 29, the pump 6'8 receiving the motivating fluid from the reservoir 27. i

On the other side of the casting 4, ashelf 70 is provided for the reception of an electric motor 7l which drives suitable pumps 72by means of X which iluid is withdrawn from the reservoir 27 and delivered to the several cylinders employed for actuating the central and side platens. If desired, the valves for controlling the flow of oil to and from the reservoir and to and from the various piston cylinders may be electrically actuated from a central position in order that the functioning of a press may berunder the ready control of a single operator. As is customary in presses 'of this character, resilient means (not shown) may be interposed between the forming dies and the platens carrying the same, in order to apply uniform pressuresto the sheet metal plates positioned between the same and avoid injury to such plates. t is also within the scope of the invention to provide any suitable type of guide means for insuring accurate vertical registration between the upper and lower sets of dies.

Whatfis claimed is:

1. ln a press, a stationary bed, a superposed frame structure carried by said "bed,a lower cen.- trally positioned top-forming die carried' by said bed, stationary side-forming dies carried by said bed on opposite sides of the top-forming die, 1'05 hydraulic means for effecting the movable support of the central top-forming die between the stationary side dies, `an upper top-forming die carried by said frame structure and movable relaitive to the lower top-forming die, spaced'upper A151'@ side-forming dies movable independently of the upper top-forming dieinto andout of pressing engagement with the stationary lower side dies; hydraulic means for governing the movements of the upper top-forming and side-forming dies, and lfl-B a plurality of end-forming corner dies carried by saidbed and frame structure and movable relative to each other and independently of the top and side-forming dies. T 1 n 2. In a hydraulic presaa bed, a superposed 1'2'0 frame structure rigidly carried by said bed, a set of lower dies carried by said bed comprising a central die, a pair of stationary side dies and four corner dies arranged at the ends of said dies, hydraulic means for impartingc'ontrolled vertical 1f2`5 travel to the central and corner' dies, a set'of upper dies disposed in vertical registration-with the lower dies and comprising respectively a movable central die, a pair of movable side dies and four movable corner dies, and hydraulic means for imparting motion to the upper set of dies.

3. In a hydraulic press, a frame structure comprising a bed, upright posts and a head supported in connection with the upper ends of said posts, a central platen carried by said bed, a die having a substantially concave upper surface mounted on said platen, a second platen carried by said head and arranged in vertical registration with the first-named platen, a die carried by said last named platen and provided with a convex surface arranged to register with the concavesurface of the lower die, stationary dies arranged at the sides of said lower die and mounted on said bed, said stationary dies having their upper surfaces formed with a compound convex curvature, and movable side dies independently mounted for movement independently of the central dies and carried in connection with said head, the upper set of movable side dies having their lower 150 surfaces provided with a compound concave curvature to register with the curvature of the upper surfaces of the stationary lower side dies.

4. In a hydraulic press, a stationary bed, a frame structure arising rigidly from said bed and disposed in superposed relationship with respect thereto, a lower set of metal pressing dies carried by said bed, an upper set of metal pressing dies arranged in registration with the lower set and carried by said frame structure for movement relative to said lower set of dies, each set of dies being formed to comprise a central die member, a pair of side die members and four corner die members, the latter being arranged at the ends of the side die members, and hydraulic means for independently controllingrelative movement between each group of registering dies.

5. In a press, a frame structure comprising a bed, a superposed head and connecting vertical posts, a lower set of hood forming dies carried in connection with said bed and an upper set of hood forming dies carried in connection with said head, each set of dies comprising a central die member, side die members arranged on each 1 side of the central die member and four corner die members arranged at the ends of the side die members, said upper and lower sets of die members being normally spaced to provide for the insertion of material therebetween, conj trol means for initially bringing the central die members into pressing engagement with material situated therebetween while the side die members are maintained in spaced relationship, and complemental control means for advancing .j the side and end die members into forming en gagement with material therebetween following corresponding engagement of the central die members.

6. In a press, a frame structure comprising a .g bed, a superposed head and connecting vertical posts, a lower set of hood forming dies carried in connection with said bed and an upper set of hood forming dies carried in connection with said head, each set of dies comprising a central f die member, side die members arranged on each side of the central die member and four corner die members arranged at the ends of the side die members, said upper and lower sets of die members being normally spaced to provide for the insertion of material therebetween, control means for initially bringing the central die members into pressing engagement with material situated therebetween while the side die members are maintained in spaced relationship, complemental control means for advancing the side and end die members into forming engagement with material therebetween following correresponding engagement of the central die members, and control means for effecting the elevation of the upper and lower sets of corner die members while the latter are retained in pressing Vengagement with the material clamped therebetween.

7. In a press, vertically registering upper and lower sets of dies, said lower set of dies comprising a vertically movable central die having a substantially concave upper surface, stationarily supportedside dies having curved upper surfaces arranged on the opposite sides of the central die, and a plurality of vertically movable end dies arranged at the ends of said side dies, said upper set of dies comprising a vertically movable central die having a substantially convex lower surface arranged to coact with said substantially concave upper surface of the lower central die, a pair of movable side dies having the lower surfaces thereof provided with a transversely undulating curvature formed for coaction with said curved upper surfaces of the stationary side dies, and a plurality of corner dies arranged for registration with the corner dies of the lower set.

8. In a press, vertically registering upper and lower sets of dies, said lower set of dies comprising a vertically movable central die having a substantially concave upper surface, stationarily supported side dies having curved upper surfaces arranged on the opposite sides of the central die, a plurality of vertically movable end dies arranged at the ends of said side dies, said upper set of dies comprising a vertically movable central die having a substantially convex lower surface arranged to coact with said substantially concave upper surface of the lower central die, a pair of movable side dies having the lower surfaces thereof provided with a transversely undulating curvature formed for coaction with said curved upper surfaces of the stationary side dies, and a plurality of corner dies arranged for registration with the corner dies of the lower set, the upper set of corner dies being provided with a corrugated enlargement arranged for registration with a similarly formed depression provided in the lower corner dies.

ALLEN F. BECK. 

